The Dominion. FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 1909. JAPANESE IN CALIFORNIA.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 412, 22 January 1909, Page 4

The Dominion. FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 1909. JAPANESE IN CALIFORNIA.

■ —* .• On the heels of Peesident Roosevelt's ; announcement, that the recent agreement s between, the United States and Japan had completely solved all difficulties between the two, countries, comes news that : may result in further trouble. . Tho Cali* fornian. State Assembly, it is stated, has read a third . time a Bill prohibiting Japanese from holding land. The resentment of the Californians at the rapid : influx of Japanese into their State has several times made sore feeling, between . the Powers of the Pacific, and a year ago v it was thought that war, was , a near possibility. After a good deal of suspense, an understanding'was arrived . at,, by'which Japanese Government undertook to restrict emigration to America, arid the i Federal Government expressed its satisfaction at this proposal. More recently, an agreement was arrived at by an exchange of 'Notes between' mo two Powers, defining their respective attitudes towards China, the Pacific commerce, and each other, and for the first time for. many months perfect concord seemed to have rested on their relations. But the American nation is composed of many States, who are each disposed to say at.times: "Daughter am I in my mother's house, but ruler in my own." The Federal Government has virtually agreed to sanction, under- certain ..restrictions, the immigration of the" Japanese into California, but-tho western State now seeks' to impose prohibitions' which ■ are most unreasonable in view of that decision; If the law allows the'small brown settler to. become an American citizen, it should give him all the privi- . leges of that state. If he is not a proper person to receive the privileges, he Bhould • be prevented from entering the country and receiving the citizenship. : That- is the argument which Loud Okbwe recently laid tlown for tho guidance of; British colonies troubled with an alien question, j and it BeemSito.be, tho only reasonable • viow that can be, taken of the position. To make the Japanese an American .'citizen, and thon seek to deny him'the elementary right of holding land, is botb illogical and tyrannous. The .Govern; ; 0 ment whioh sought to differentiate aftei this manner between various strata oi P its population would soon find itsolf in ... difficulties. , • a At the same time ono Can .sympathist £ with tho grievance of the Californians. who may yet be placed in a minority it their own country by the incveaso 0: prolific Japanese. Legal restrictions upoi q immigration can be very easily made but are not so easily onforced, especially T in America, where monoy and ; corrupt 3, officialism ajo often stronger forces tbar the Government. For some/ time pas: vicious combines, it is said, have beot smuggling Chinese and Japanese into - California, : regardless of the legal limi 1 tations, and' it is computed that a singli steamship company lands 6000 Chinesi ■ yearly. The competition of chiap Avork 51 era is a sore coiat with the laboui

unions, who do not fail to raiEo their voice, and no doubt tho Legislature of California, seeing tho futility of regulations to limit the 1 initial influx, is anxious to submit tho aliens after their arrival to- such disabilities as will make-; the State no land of promise to their fellows. Tho position is a very interesting one, fraught with important issues. If tho Californian State Assembly should pass its Bill, the Federal Government has powor to disallow the measure. In that caso the Oalifornians might submit, or the anti-colour frenzy that has raged at intervals in the past might rise higher with opposition, and riots against the Federal authority have to.be put down by force. It appears that President Boosevelt has obtained a temporary delay of action in regard to the State's legislative proposals, which he is convinced would cause "incalculable damage both to California and tho whole of the Union." It is further stated in the cable news which we publish to-day that in consequence of' the President's intervention the majority controlling the CaliAssembly has decided to defeat the a'nti-Japanese legislation, on the ground; of national prudence. It is greatly to be hoped that these wiso counsels will continue to prevail, and that a situation of grave danger will, be averted. -The relationship of two great rival Powers stands'behind the relationship of Federal Parliament' and State. The internal trouble which might arise if the Washington Government should be compelled to repress forcibly the policy of California would be ,a serious evil, but it would, be much less seriouS ; than the international breach which might, follow the unchecked pursuance by tie western State of ifa first harassing intentions.